That Fluffy White Tree

If the Saltbush is blooming, it must be autumn in south Florida!  

I think it's very showy and looks quite pretty nestled in among the roadside woodlands.  But, it does cause me some respiratory distress as all those fluffy white seeds go flying through the air, causing my asthma to act up.

Luckily, I don't see any as I look around the woods near the house, so I'm feeling thankful for that!

I've been making some more small handmade envelopes out of an old garden journal.  I've used them to send seeds to gardening friends and I have a lot of fun in the creating and decorating process. 

I also use them to send tea samples out to my pen friends around the world.

Did I ever mention how much I love tea?  Well, that's a separate post that would probably go on and on and on...   Don't worry, I'll spare you :)

And since I don't have a lot going on in the garden - here's a couple of Sandhill Cranes that I thought were really cute.  This photo was taken at a marsh in the area.

I hope you're all enjoying the beautiful weather and the weekend!  


  

I'd Lost My Mojo...

Pretty purslane - the deer haven't found them yet, which I'm kind of sad about since I haven't seen even one deer since we've moved here.  

I've mostly seen bugs and birds, lizards and snakes.  He thinks he's hiding, hahaha.

 Handsome, here, is easy to spot and he has a Cardinal family with a wife and three kids that all eat at the feeders.  

Here is Mrs. C. and she loves this mesh feeder that should have peanuts or corn in it.  I filled it with black-oil sunflower seeds when we first moved here (a couple of months ago), just to get a feeder up quickly.  Well, all the birds love it!  There's four feeding stations in the yard and they all want to hang out on this old thing.  

We had to get a new pole for this beat up old hopper feeder.  But I'm happy it's up because it keeps the seed from getting wet.  

I'm not sure how this Red-bellied Woodpecker is doing.  She looks a little scruffy and I hope she's okay.  I've decided I'm not loving this plain white fence as a background to bird photos.  I think it's so sterile looking.  I guess this is a great place to start planting, to get some pretty backgrounds again.

And why haven't I planted anything lately?  Ha!  Good question.  I didn't do diddly last month.  My husband had a very nasty virus which ended him up in hospital and of course, I got it and that took me out for a couple of weeks.  So I think September flew by and I just sat on my hiney.

The previous photo is of some Shepherds Needles wildflowers that we have an abundance of along the roadside.  They are excellent at attracting all types of butterflies, like this Zebra Longwing which is our Florida state butterfly.

And this bright orange male Julia butterfly.

The Beautyberries are all ripe and gorgeous looking.  Why is nobody eating them?  I keep reading how the birds are suppose to gobble them up and other wildlife too.  Nope - nobody touches these guys.  At least, not around here.  

Unfortunately, some birds do seem to like the invasive and exotic Brazilian Berries.  Which of course then spreads them quite effectively.  I've noticed quite a few mature trees in the woods and I'm sad to see that.  If you can learn to identify this tree in its small form, it's easy to pull out then.  Once it gets even a foot high, I find I have to get out the major tools to pull it all out. 

Yup - it's getting to be that time of year again when the goblins and ghosts are around.  I'll be out there trying to get some spooky photos.  All Hallows' Eve has always been a favorite!  

I think George Carlin is attributed to the saying I added to this full moon shot.  There's so many fake quotes going around I almost hate to add a credit.  But, I didn't want you to think I wrote it.  I'm not clever like that.  Bugs and Hisses to all!  :)